Stair-rod fastener



I. W. DIEHL.

STAIR ROD FASTiNER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, I919.

1,41 8, 1 33. Patent d May 30, 1922.

' mwm toz Irvin WDiEhI IRVIN W. DIEHIJ, 0F DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1922.

Application filed May 2, 1919. Serial No. 294,134.

To all 10 7mm it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, InvIN WV. DI'EHL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at- Duluth, in the county, of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stair-Rod Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stair rod fasteners, and has for its object to provide an improved fastener or retainer for stair rods such as are commonly employed for retaining carpet or stair runners in place upon stairways, which is easily attached to or detached from connection with the steps of a stairway to permit the removal of the carpet when desired.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of a fastener for stair rods comprising an angular spring plate having teeth formed upon its ends adapted for biting into the steps or a stairway and which has a ring swivelly connected thereto through which the one end of the stair rod extends, said spring acting to draw the stair rod tightly against a carpet and force the latter into the corner of the steps, at the conjunction of the tread of one step and riser of the step next thereto.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved stair rod fastener, showing the same applied.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the stair rod fasteners applied.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the stair rod fastener, applied, showing parts thereof in section, and

Figure 4 is a section through the stair rod and a carpet, illustrating the manner in which the carpet is forced into the corner at the junction of a tread of one step and the riser of the next thereto.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 10 indicates the stair rods, such as is ordinarily used for attaching a carpet as indicated at A, to a flight of stairs, indicated at B, thereby eliminating the use of tacks, in attaching the carpet, and when the rod 10 is confined, by means of the improved stair rod fasteners, generically indicated by the numeral 12, it will permit the carpet A to be removed from the steps, for cleaning, replacing or any other desired purpose.

The fasteners 12, one of which is provided for each end of the stair rods 1'O,'c'omprise's flat strip of spring metal 13, which when in po s1t1on is bent to provide a pair ofsubstant-lall'y right angularly disposed portions,

the ends of which are cut to provide a plurality of out-turned teeth 1a adapted tobite into the stairs B, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, for connecting the strip 13 to the stairs. A relatively narrow rod ongaging ring 15 is swivelly connected to the spring strip 18 intermediate its end, by the inserting of one end of the rod of which the ring is formed, through an opening in the s; ring strip 13 and upsettingthe same, as s own at 16 in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In use the relatively narrow ring 15 is grasped between the thumb and forefinger and the teeth 14 of the fiat strip of spring metal 13 are placed in their proper position as regards thetread of one step and the riser of. the next step above. Then by pressing inwardly on ring 15 with the thumb and forefinger the flat strip will be bent to approximate a right angle. The tips of the thumb and forefinger will of course extend past the ring and so exert pressure upon the under strip 13 to aid in the proper placement of the strip and will also prevent the ring from turning thereon. The end of the stair rod 10 is then inserted through this ring 15, and the action of the spring strip 13, Wlll draw the ring 15 inwardly, towards the corner formed at the joint or joining of the tread of one'step with the riser of the step next thereto, consequently forcing the rod into firm engagement with the carpet A, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, and securely holding the carpet in place. The spring action of the strip or plate 13 also tends to force the teeth 1 1 into the wood of the stairs. The rods 10 may be readily inserted into the rings 15 when the rings are out of alignment with each other, owing to the fact that the rings 15 are swivelly connected to the plates 13. Vhen one of the rings 15 are out of alignment, it is merely necessary to swing one of the rings on its pivot, which will permit the rod 10 to be moved into engagement with the other ring. T 0 remove the stair rod fasteners, it is only necessary to insert a tool, such as a screwdriver or the like, between the inner surface of the strip 13 and the outer portion of the stairs adjacent thereto, and drive the teeth 14 out of the wood or stairs, and it may be easily reattached to the stairs, by slight tapping to force the teeth lt into the wood.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, but

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a spring plate member of inherent resiliency to nor mally maintain the same in substantially flat manner having the extreme ends thereof sharpened and outturned from one side, and

an eye member swivelly connected substan tially midway of the ends of said spring plate and disposed upon the side of said plate opposite the side toward which the sharpened ends outturn.

2. As an article of manufacture, a spring plate of inherent resiliency to normally maintain the same in substantially flat manner, the extreme ends of said plate having a series of sharpened teeth thereon outturned toward one side of said plate, and a ring member swivelly connected substantially midway of the ends of said spring plate upon the side thereof opposite the sides toward which said sharpened teeth are outturned, said ring member being pivotally mounted upon an axis transversely of the plane defined by said plate.

3. In a stair carpet fastening device, the combination with a confining rod, of a pair of fastener elements for said rod each including a spring plate of inherent resiliency to normally maintain the same in flat manner, said plate having a series of sharpened teeth upon each extreme end thereof 0utturned toward one side of said plate, and a rod retaining ring swivelly connected to the opposite side of said plate in order that the same may rotate around an axis transversely of the plane defined by said plate, said plates being of such resiliency as to permit their attachment in the angle formed by the tread and riser of a stair way, to have the rings thereof mounted for swivelling extending outwardly adjacent the angle formed by said tread and riser, so that said rings may be adjusted into alignment to receive said confining rod.

IRVIN W. DIEHL. 

